Lubricating-axle.



No. 67I,847. Patented Apr. 9, 190|.

y F. P. WHITE.

LUBRICATING AXLE.

(App1 icacion mea Vsept. 5, 1900.) (No Model.) 2l Sheets--She'et w/f/ -\r 10, f4 'Vl/M i 17 ff 33 hm fig 5 "H wm m @i Whjzsszs [Z.) .lgzgior I I uzhfergzys Patented Anr. 9, I90I.

F. P. WHITE.

LUBRIGAT'ING AXLE.

(Application filed Sept. 5; 1900.)

2 Sheets--Sheet' 2.

(No Model.)

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I e UNiTED STATES PATENT Ormes.

FRANKLIN P. WHITE, OF SHALLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA.

LU BRlCATlNG-AXLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 671,847, dated. April 9, 1901.

Application filed September 5, 1900. Serial No. 29,111. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN-P. WHITE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Shallotte, in the county of Brunswick and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Lubricating-Axle, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to vehicle-axles in general, and more particularly to the axles of carriages and Wagons; and it has specific references to means for lubricating the bearin gsurfaces of the skein and box, the object of the invention being to provide a construction wherein there will be a reservoir from which the lubricant is fed by means of wicks, a further object being to provide means for holding these Wicks against displacement.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient means for supplying or permitting the supply of lubricant to the reservoir, further objects and advantages of the invention being evident from the following description.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, Figure lis a central longitudinal section of one form of the invention in which the lubricant is supplied to the reservoir through the box-securing nut. Fig. 2 is a perspective View showing the skein of the axle. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3 ofFig. 1, a wick being shown in elevation. Fig. l is a top plan view showing the spindle of the axle with the skein removed. Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing one end of an axle equipped with a diiferent means for supplying lubricant 'to the reservoir. Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken longitudinally of the spindle, skein, and box of the axle shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the skein shown in Fig. 6.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. l to -1 thereof, lO represents the body portion of a `vehicle-axle, and ll the spindle at one end thereof, the spindle in the present instance having a longitudinal recess l2 in its end, forming a reservoir for alubricant, and communicating with this reservoir through the upper side of the spindle are perforations 13.

At the base of the spindle ll is formed a shoulder 14 of usual form, and adjacent to this shoulder the spindle is threaded, as shown at l5, and beyond the threaded portion the spindle is reduced in diameter to form a second shoulder 16, and is then further reduced in diameter, as shown at 17, to form a third shoulder 1S, the portion between shoulders 16 and 18 being indicated at 19 and the shoulder 18 being concaved. The extremity of the spindle 1l is further reduced and is provided with screw-threads 20, the portions of the spindle of'different diameters being all slightly tapered.

Upon the spindle ll is disposed a skein 2l,

the outer surface of which is tapered from its base toward its outer end, said skein having anannular flange 22 atits inner end provided with an annular groove to receive the inner end of the wheel-box 23, which is disposed upon the skein, a series of balls 24 being disposed within the groove between the bottom thereof and the inner end of the box to receive the thrust of the latter. The outer end of the box projects beyond the outer end of the skein, as shown.

The interior of the skein has a varied diameter to conform to the exterior shape of the spindle upon which it is fitted, the ends of the skein having internal threads 25 and 26 for engagement with the threads l5 and 2O to draw the skein onto the spindle. The outer end of the skein extends beyond the outer end of the spindle, and engaged with the threads 20 thereof is a nut 27, having a radial flange 28, provided with an annular groove 29, in which is received the outer end of the box 23. Balls 29 are disposed in the groove 29, between the bottom thereof and the outer end of the box to receive outward thrust of the latter. The nut 27 acts to close the outer end of the skein and has a central axial passage 30 therethrough, with the outer end of which is engaged a screw-plug 3l. A radial passage 32 is formed in the nut 27 exterior to the flange 28 thereof and communicates with the passage 30, and the screw-plug 3l has a helically-disposed slot 33 in its periphery and extending through the inner end thereof, this slot terminating short of the outer end of the plug, whereby Wliqmyglg plug is turned to one position it mayllrlegisper with passage 32 and communicate it wiltb ,the

IOO

vention described.

vpassage 30, and when turned further will move from register. When in register, oil may be forced into the reservoir 12 through the passages 80 and 32 to feed through the wicks to the inner surface 0f the box, and when turned from registry Waste of oil Will be prevented. Washers 35 are disposed upon the nut be tween the langes thereof and the outer end ofthe skein, inside of the box, and prevent passage of oil that 'may follow the threads. Washers 25 are disposed between the shoul der 14 and the inner end of the skein, so that when the skein is screwed into place these Washers are compressed, and the frictional engagement of the parts is sufficient to hold the skein against accidental unscrewing. The rotation of the Wheel on the skein as the vehicle to which it is applied moves forwardly is such as to tend to screw the skein farther onto the spindle.

In Figs. 5, 6, and 7 of the drawings there is shown a modification of the invention in which the spindle 40 is similar to the spindle above referred to. At the rear end of the spindle 40 is formed an annular flange 41, and adjacent to which are screw-threads 42, the spindle beyond these threads being reduced in diameter, as shown at 43, to form a shoulder 44. The extremity 45 of the spindle is further reduced and is provided with threads 46 to receive a common form of axle-nut 27. A skein 48 is disposed upon the spindle and is formed interiorly to conform to the spindle, having interior threads at its inner end for engagement with the threads 42 to hold the skein in place. A longitudinal recess 49 is formed in the spindle, and leading thereto through the upper face of the spindle Vare perforations 50, with which are adapted to register the perforations 5l, formed -in the skein. The recess 49, which is adapted to be closed by the nut 27', forms an oil-reservoir, and through the vp erforations in the spindle and skein are `passed Wicks 53, which are adapted to dip into the oil in the reservoir and to supply it by capillary action to the inner face of the wheel-box 54, which is disposed upon the axle-skein. When the wicks are in place, they are locked against displacement by slightly rotating the skein with respect to the spindle in the same manner as illustrated in Fig. 3 in connection with the first form of the in- In this form of the invention the oil is supplied to the reservoirs, of which there is one for each axle-spindle 4of the vehicle, from oil-cups 55, one of which is secured to each aXletree. From the cup 55 (shown in the drawings) there leads a sulpply-pipe 56 to a passage 57, which communicates with the rear end of the reservoir, the oil running from the cup through the pipe and passage to the reservoir from which it is gpplied to the bearing in the manner above ciifld. l

"QItill'be understood that in practice variousfhtlier modifications of the invention may be made and that any suitable materials and proportions may be used for the various parts Pwithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

Washers 40', corresponding to Washers 25', above described, are disposed between the shoulder 41 and the-inner end of the skein for a like purpose.

The skein in each instance is formed of Babbitt or other suitable friction metal and is normally without threads, the threads` thereof being cut by screwing it onto the threads of the spindle.

In Fig. l the skein 21 has an iron or other p v*opening of the spindle, a wick in the registering openings, the skein being rotatable upon the spindle constructed and arranged to clamp the Wick against displacement, and l, meansl for holding the skein in its clamping 1 position.

2. A bearing member comprising two elements one of which contains a reservoir and 1 both of which have openings leading to the reservoir when in alinement,l wicks disposed in the openings and entering the reservoir,

one of the elements being movable with respect to the other constructed and arranged to grip the wick and hold it against displacement, and means for holding said element in its clamping position.

3. The combination with a hollow spindle having perforations leading to the inclosure thereof, of a skein having threaded engagement with the spindle, the outer end of the skein being interiorly threaded and projected beyond the outer end of thespind`le,'said skein having also perforations for alinement with the perforations of the spindle, Wicks in the alining perforations, a nut engaged with the interior of the skein and having a feed-passage for supplying lubricant to the reservoir, and means for preventi-ng eXit of the lubricant through the feed-passage.

4. In a lubricatingaxle, the combination with a spindle having a reservoir therein, of a nut for closing the reservoir said nut having a passage leading to the reservoir and having a second passage intersecting the first passage,.and a screw engaged with the first passage and having a groove in its periphery and leading through its inner end, said groove being disposed for registration with the second passage at times to permit access therefrom to the reservoir.

5. The combination with a hollow spindle IOO IIO

having perforations leading to the inelosure through its inner end, said groove being disposed to register with the second passage at x 5 times as the screw is rotated, to communicate the Second passage with the inelosure of the spindle.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I havehereto affixed my signature in zo the presence of two Witnesses.

FRANKLIN P. WHITE.

Witnesses:

JOHN MCLAURIN, C. C. LOUGHLIN. 

